• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.854-862
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• 2016

In summer 2010, we measured the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) and nutrients in the water collected at the bottom of Cheonsu Bay, off the west coast of Korea. We also measured nutrient fluxes across the sediment-water interface by deploying a fully-automated benthic lander, which collected time-series water samples inside a benthic chamber. We confirmed on-going hypoxia in the northern parts of the bay where polluted lake water was discharged. DO content in the water at the bottom was 2 mg/l, compared to 5 mg/l at the mouth of the bay in the south. Nutrient concentrations showed a trend that was opposite to that of DO. The variation of N/P ratios implies phosphate desorption and a release of nutrients caused by hypoxia. The organic carbon oxidation rate and oxygen consumption rate in the northern parts of the bay were about twice as fast as those at the mouth of the bay. Benthic fluxes of nutrients in the northern part of the bay were 4 to 6 times higher than those at the mouth. Our results imply that it is important to understand the role of hypoxia events to make an accurate estimation of material fluxes across the sediment-water interface.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.280-291
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• 2007

Much research has been conducted in the field of phytoremediation since the discovery of the range of plants known as hyperaccumulators. Research has focused simultaneously on elucidating the mechanism of metal(loid) accumulation and development of practical techniques to enhance accumulation efficiency. To date, it is generally understood that there are five specific mechanisms employed by hyperaccumulating plant species that are either not or under utilized by non-hyperaccumulators. These include 1) enhanced metal(loid)s uptake through the root cell, 2) enhanced translocation in plant tissue, 3) detoxification and sequestration, 4) enhanced metal availability in soil:root interface, and 5) active root foraging toward metal(loid) enriched soils. Among these mechanisms, understanding of the plant-root effect on metal(loid) dynamics and subsequent plant uptake is vital to overcome the inherit limitation of phytoremediation caused by low metal(loid) solubility in soils. Plant roots can influence the soil chemistry in the rhizosphere through changes in pH and exudation of organic compounds such as low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) which consequently change metal(loid) solubility. The decrease in soil pH by plant release of $H^+$ results in increased metal solubility. Elevated levels of organic compounds in response to high metal soil concentrations by plant exudation may also increases metal concentration in soil solution through formation of organometallic complexes.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.79-87
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• 2016

Asian dust (Hwangsa) interacts with light, atmospheric gas, aerosol, and marine ecosystem, affecting Earth climate. Mineralogical properties are essential to understand the interaction between the dust and environments. In this study, we examined the mineralogical properties of Asian dust collected at Deokjeok Island, Incheon, Korea in February 22, 2015. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses showed that phyllosilicate minerals (62 wt%) dominate the Asian dust. Illite-smectite series clay minerals (55%) were common with minor chlorite (5%) and kaolinite (2%). Non-phyllosilicate minerals were quartz (18%), plagioclase (10%), K-feldspar (4%), calcite (4%), and gypsum (1%). Similar results were obtained by mineral quantification using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). Transmission electron microscopy combined with EDS confirmed illite-smectite series clay minerals as the dominant phyllosilicate type. Morphological analyses using SEM showed clay agglomerates, clay-coated quartz, feldspars, and micas. Gypsum grains were common on the particle surface, while calcite nanofibers, previously reported as common on the surface, were rare, indicating the reaction of calcite and acidic atmospheric pollutants to form gypsum. The analytical result of 2015 Asian dust would contribute to the establishment of mineralogical base for the modeling of the interaction between Asian dust and environments.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.734-744
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• 2011

A soil stabilization method is an effective and practical remediation alternative for arsenic (As) and heavy metal contaminated farmland soils nearby abandoned metal mine in Korea. This method is a technique whereby amendments are incorporated and mixed with a contaminated soil. Toxic metal bind to the amendments, which reduce their mobility in soil, so the successful stabilization of multi-element contaminated soil depends on the combination of critical elements in the soil and the type of amendments. The objective of this study is to investigate the treatment effects and applicability of limestone (LS) and steel refining slag (SRS) as the amendment for farmland soil contaminated with As and heavy metals, and a lab-column test was conducted for achieving this purpose. The result showed that soil treated with LS and SRS maintained pH buffer capacity and, as a result, the heavy metal leaching concentration was quite low below the water quality standard compared to untreated soil which leachate exceeding the water quality standard was observed, however, the arsenic concentration rather increased with increasing mixture ratio of SRS. This was believed to be related to phosphorus (P) contained in SRS, and dominancy in the competitive adsorption relation between As and P binding strongly to iron might be different according to soil characteristic. We suggested that LS is a effective amendment for reducing heavy metals in soil, and SRS should be used after investigating its applicability based on the adsorption selectivity of arsenic and phosphorus in selected soil.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.541-547
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• 2017

In Yongwon channel, its natural flow of seawater is blocked by the construction of Busan Newport including the container berth. The channel was transformed into a narrow and long one, where it is possible that ships are only allowed to pass through the north-side channel of Gyeonmado located at the point of river mouth to Songjeongcheon. So it is considered that the changes in the terrain characteristics of Yongwon channel is likely to alter the circulation of sea water, thereby changing its water quality. Contaminants are accumulated from the sediment release. In this study, before and after dredging the sediment release test was performed. As a result, after the sediment dredging is performed, the reduction rate was higher at the same point. The results show that the water quality can be improved by dredging. Each group (A~C) reduction rate of the evaluation of the reduction rate of 4.64% T-N, 18.00%, 18.59%, respectively. T-P rate of 24.75% reduction, 24.17%, 44.08%, respectively. COD reduction rate was 18.57%, 19.76%, 38.08%, respectively. These results can be used as basic data for controlling the contamination by dredging in Yongwon channel.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.53 no.spc1
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• pp.755-764
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• 2020

In South Korea, 850 standard watersheds and 7,807 KRF catchment areas have been used as basic maps for water resources policy establishment, however it becomes necessary to set up new standard maps with a more appropriate scale for the integrated managements of surface water-groundwater as well as water quantity-quality in the era of integrated water management. Since groundwater has a slow flow velocity and also has 3-D flow properties compared to surface water, the sub-catchment size is more effective than the regional watershed for the evaluation of surface water-groundwater interaction. The KRF catchment area, which has averagely a smaller area than the standard watershed, is similar to the sub-catchment area that generally includes the first-order or second-order tributaries. Some KRF catchment areas, which are based on the surface reach, are too small or large in a wide plain or high mountain area. Therefore, it is necessary to revise the existing KRF area if being used as a unit area for integrated management of surface-water and groundwater. A unit watershed with a KRF area of about 5 to 15 ㎢ can be effective as a basic unit for water management of local government considering a tributary composition and the location of groundwater wells, and as well it can be used as a basic tool for water demand-supply evaluation, hydrological observation system establishment, judgment of groundwater permission through a total quantity management system, pollution assessment, and prioritizing water policy, and etc.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.29-36
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• 1999

The leaching behaviour of $^{14}C$-paraquat in soil was investigated using soil columns (5 cm I.D. ${\times}$ 30 cm H.) parked with two soils of different physicochemical properties. $^{14}C$-Activities leached from the soil A (loam) columns with and without rice plants for 117 days were 0.42 and 0.54% of the originally applied, whereas those from the soil B (sandy loam) were 0.21 and 0.31%, respectively. $^{14}C$-Activities absorbed by rice plants from soil A and B were 3.87 and 2.79%, respectively, most of which remained in the root. Irrespective of soil types, more than 96% of the total $^{14}C$ resided in soil, mostly in the depth of $0{\sim}5$ cm. The water-extractable $^{14}C$ in soil was in the range of $6.10{\sim}9.01%$ of the total $^{14}C$ applied. The rest of $^{14}C$, which corresponds to non-extractable soil residues of [$^{14}C$]paraquat, was distributed in humic substances in the decreasing order of humin>humic acid>fulvic acid. The soil pH of the columns without rice plants increased after the leaching experiment due to the flooded anaerobic condition resulting in the reduction of the $H^{+}$ concentration, whereas that of the columns with rice plants did not increase by the offsetting effect of the acidic exudates from the roots. Low mobility of paraquat in soil strongly indicates that no contamination of ground water would be caused by paraquat residues in paddy soils under normal precipitation.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.3 s.178
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• pp.213-227
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• 2006

The geochemical evolution of mine drainage and leachate from waste rock dumps and stream water in Pb-As-rich abandoned Sechang mine area was investigated to elucidate mechanisms of trace metals. Total and sequential extractions were applied to estimate the distribution of trace metals in constituent phases of the waste rocks and to assess the mobility of trace metals according to physicochemical conditions. These discharged waters varied largely in chemical composition both spatially and temporally, and included cases with significant]y low pH (in the range 2.1-3.3), and extremely sulphate (up to 661 mg/l and metal contents (e.g. up to 169 mg/l for Zn, 27 mg/l for As, 3.97 mg/l for Pb, 2.99 mg/l for Cu, and 1.88 mg/l for Cd). Arsenic and heavy metal concentrations at the down-stream of Sechang mine have been decreased nearly to the background level in downstream sites (sites 8 and 16) without any artificial treatments. The oxidation of Fe-sulfides and the subsequent hydrolysis, of Fe(II), with precipitation of poorly crystallized minerals, constituted an efficient mechanism of natural attenuation which reduces considerably the transference of trace metals (i.e. Fe and As) to rivers. The dilution of drainage by mixing with pristine waters provoked an additional decrease of trace metal concentrations and a progressive pH increase. On the other hand, the most soluble cations (i.e. Zn) remained significantly as dissolved solutes until the pH was raised to approximately neutral values. With respect to ecotoxicity, it is likely that the Zn pollution is of particular concern in Sechang mine area. This was confirmed by the sequential extraction experiment, where Zn in wet waste-rock samples occurred predominantly in the exchangeable fraction (65-89% of total), while Pb was the highest in the reducible and carbonate fractions, and Cd, Cu and As in the residual fraction. Pb concentration in the readily available exchangeable fraction (34-48% of total) was dominated for dried waste rock samples. Considering the proportion of metals bound to the exchangeable and carbonate fractions, the comparative mobility of metals probably decreased in the order of Zn>Pb>Cd>As=Cu.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.432-438
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• 1996

This study was carried out to prepare information for the establishment of countermeasures for an area contaminated with minewaste from an old zinc mine at Kahak-long in Kwangmyong. Minewaste and bottom sediments from the streams in this area were sampled and were analyzed for Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn extracted with different solution. Total heavy metal contents in both minewaste and bottom sediments were fairly high. Cadmium and Zn contents in the minewaste and Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn contents in the bottom sediments extracted with 0.1 N HCl showed a much higher level than those in the background level of paddy soils and in the soils around the other metal mines regardless of the distance from the mine. Sulfide/residue forms of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn covered the highest portions for the minewaste. For bottom sediments, sulfide/residue forms of Cu and Zn formed the highest portions, whereas the contents of both carbonate and sulfide/residue forms of Cd and Pb were significant. The lower the pH of the extracting solutions, the more heavy metals extracted from both minewaste and bottom sediments.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.233-238
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• 2007

To assess pollutant loads in Nakdong river from highland agriculture in Kyungbuk province we. analyzed water qualities such as BOD, COD, T-N, T-P and SS in year 2005. BOD values in rainy period (June and July) were relatively higher than those in dry period, and those in 4 sites among 17 sites ranged from 10.71-19.25 mg/L which exceeded water criteria (8 mg/L) for agricultural use. COD values showed similar trends like BOD values. These trends might be caused by outflow of nutrients applied in agricultural lands. T-N content ranged from 0.1 to 14 mg/L. Those in lower reaches of stream were greater in those in upper stream. Compared to T-N contents during non-farming season, T-N content in farming season were higher. These phenomenon could be due to continuous input of nutrients from small watercourses. Averaged T-P content in lower stream during farming season was 0.4 mg/L, which was eight times higher than the limiting level for algae occurrence (0.05 mg/L). BOD, T-P, T-N loads from alpine agricultural practices were 12.25 $kg/km^2{\cdot}day$, 0.55 $kg/km^2{\cdot}day$ and 32.35 $kg/km^2{\cdot}day$, respectively. These values were greater than those from forestry. Therefore, Best management Practices (BMP) for alpine agricultural field are needed to reduce pollutant loads in Nakdong river.